Mini-Syllabus: On Affection/Affliction

Instead of life being a skywards trajectory of never-ending joy, romantic disappointment and emotional upheaval often overrule. Undeniable passion, fluttering heartstrings and a piercing connection are not always equated with a smooth and uncomplicated love story. Besides, heartache and heartbreak could be considered fundamental to further individual growth, empathy and resilience stimulating maturity and perspective. After all, it is the highs and lows of love and of life that contributes to our personal histories and identity, and in some cases our own private telenovela.

Within society, and as a result often within ourselves, exists a level of fantasy surrounding the idea of togetherness and foreverness. Challenging this traditional, linear, heterosexual model, these selections reveal truly revolutionary and deeply touching romances that are not rooted in the enlightened or triumphant conclusion. The unrequited lovers remain star-crossed. The charm and inspiration lies within the conceptualization and gestation of the relationships, the sticky, unpleasant, messy bits in between. These unconventional love stories confront conventional ways of thinking about love by offering alternative stories and endings that are arguably far more representative and relatable.

Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013), Abdellatif Kechiche

Goodbye First Love (2012), Mia Hansen-Løve

Lawrence Anyways (2012), Xavier Dolan

The Way We Were (1973), Sydney Pollack

Away From Her (2007), Sarah Polley

Family Happiness (1859), Leo Tolstoy

Boys Don’t Cry (1999), Kimberly Peirce

Three Times (2005), Hou Hsiao-Hsien

Giovanni’s Room (1956), James Baldwin

A New Leaf (1971), Elaine May

Take This Waltz (2011), Sarah Polley

5 Centimeters Per Second (2007), Makoto Shinkai

Casablanca (1942), Michael Curtiz

Norwegian Wood (1987), Haruki Murakami

Water (2005), Deepa Mehta

Roman Holiday (1953), William Wyler

Me Before You (2012), Jojo Moyes

Doctor Zhivago (1957), Boris Pasternak

Like Crazy (2011), Drake Doremus

Breathing Lessons (1988), Anne Tyler

Blue Valentine (2010), Derek Cianfrance

Mini-Syllabus: On Affection/Affliction was last modified: April 29th, 2017 by Emily Collins

Emily Collins is a Master of Arts graduate in Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Prior, she studied Comparative Literature and Culture. Formally, she works for a public arts institution in Canada. She also is working on crafting and refining her freelance writing and critiquing skills. She will be entering a Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies in the coming year.

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